Microsoft Visio

Given the versatility and diversity of the diagrams that can be created with Microsoft Visio, we use this tool for the most diverse activities. With our students, we use it to organize group activities and manage the tasks that everyone has to complete. In research groups, we use it to divide tasks and create organization charts. For research activities, especially the more complex ones carried out, for example, in PhD programmes, the diagrams allow us to display all the work phases graphically.

Visio is the best solution for creating diagrams documenting systems, processes, and IT architecture. No other tool has the support for vendor provided stencils that Visio has, and no other tool has the cross version stability that Visio has enjoyed since Microsoft's acquisition of the product. Visio however has a steep learning curve, so is not suitable for users without a degree of technical knowledge or experience in diagramming or UML concepts.

Like most people, if you already are using Office 365, chances are that you are subscribed to Visio. If you are still using yesteryears tools for diagramming etc. try Visio, it will certainly make your life easier at it. However, if you aren't a Windows user, not much help with that. I am yet to come across a case where Office 365 costs are justified by the inclusion of Visio in it, so costs can certainly be a concern.

As a Network designer, Visio helps to demonstrate the network flow, low/high level designs. It requires more precision for small things, it should be auto corrected.

If you 1. have the budget and 2. are used to the Microsoft ecosystem, this is an AMAZING tool for data and content visualization. Yes, things like Google Docs will work and are free or cheap.. but the combination of quality and ease of use made Visio a great solution for us. It's also an easier learning curve if, like us, you need to help set clients up with the software as well.

It is very useful in explaining complex topics in diagrams and can be used to create org charts. We use it to create and share various flows like data flow across the system, payments trace, and ideate on API and system design. It is very user-friendly and the learning curve is quite small.

I believe any company or individual that is looking to get a process map visualized; would be a great tool. The tool is a great way to get complex ideas onto “paper” for all to see. Visio can be harder to use if you have an idea that is going in many different directions. If all ideas can fit on one page, this is the tool to use to visualize it all.

Visio is well suited to a small office setting where individual stand-alone products might bring more power to the table but a high additional cost. Once a user knows how to work with Visio's drag-and-drop interface with one set of templates, the skills are transferrable to any of the other templates. This one product allows the user to address more than 95% of their foreseeable needs in multiple areas, from organizational charts to flow charts, to office layout, to network design. Users with more needs in any one particular area than Visio can provide are probably better served by exploring a stand-alone dedicated program, but they will pay far more for that one program than the price tag of the multi-role player Visio.

We use it extensively in project management requirements; it is our preferred tool to communicate with stakeholders around the world. For strategy and training, this is a core tool to add complicated systems and task distribution around our team.

As I mentioned earlier, we didn't know about Visio and we made all our diagrams and charts inside Photoshop, illustrator, and other basic wireframing tools and it was an excruciating experience but then we came to know about Visio and it made our process very smooth and time-saving in most cases. Now we just use the templates and pre-made shapes and create all our app flowcharts and it's super fast and easy. For people like us who make these diagrams and charts on daily basis, this tool is a blessing to have. But for most non-professionals and who don't make complex charts, it's not really essential to have but yes it's still useful. can't really pinpoint any scenarios where you can't utilize it's feature set.

Visio is ideal for process and org charts. The flexibility to change the size and shape of boxes as well as the use of decision boxes, makes it very easy to provide a high-level view for executives. It also supports creating very detailed processes that allow the user to drill down into specifics to show nuanced changes in any given process. Visio is not great for project planning diagrams. Linking it to Ms. Project would be very helpful. Often times in project management, providing a visual representation can be helpful.

Microsoft Visio is well suited when the team is deeply embedded into the Microsoft tech stack, such as Word or Excel, which needs to be integrated or have information included in the final Visio output product. There are numerous ways where direct integration between these Microsoft products makes the experience easy to use and relatively easy to keep up to date.

I am not sure it is suited for smaller organization. For larger or more complicated environments, it takes the guess work out of diagraming the infrastructure. The org chart is useful for medium to large organizations. For detail a process flow, it is very useful. Again, I don't believe smaller organizations would find great benefits from using Microsoft Visio, but larger organizations would benefit.

When planning for future development in the discovery and design phases Microsoft Visio is especially useful in understanding the planned or existing applications and how it will interact with future code. You can create detailed flow documents that help see how an application works and there is no limit to how complex you can design an application in Microsoft Visio. Given that it is a Microsoft product it is pretty intuitive to learn to use, and integrates well into existing windows application and systems

It's great to use Microsoft Visio when trying to create visual representations of data or processes. It's very effective for creating org charts, flow through processes or other charts or graphs. It's a nice add-on to other Microsoft tools as its easy to add these diagrams into PowerPoint, Word, etc.

Microsoft Visio is well-suited for creating a wide range of diagrams and graphics, including flowcharts, network diagrams, floor plans, organizational charts, and many more. It is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of business and personal purposes.Some specific scenarios where Microsoft Visio might be particularly well-suited include Business process mapping: Microsoft Visio's flowchart and process diagramming tools can be useful for visually representing business processes and identifying potential areas for improvement.Network design and documentation: Microsoft Visio network diagramming tools can help IT professionals design and document complex network architectures.Project management: Microsoft Visio Gantt chart and timeline tools can be helpful for visually tracking the progress of projects and identifying potential bottlenecks or dependencies.Technical documentation: Microsoft Visio diagramming tools can be useful for creating clear and concise technical documents, such as user manuals or technical guides.However, there are also some scenarios where Microsoft Visio may not be the best choice. For example:Complex data visualization: While Microsoft Visio does have some data visualization capabilities, it may not be as powerful as specialized data visualization software such as Tableau or Excel.Advanced simulation: While Microsoft Visio does have some simulation capabilities, it may not be as robust or advanced as specialized simulation software.Model-based systems engineering (MBSE): While Microsoft Visio does have some support for MBSE, it may not be as comprehensive or advanced as other specialized MBSE tools.Large-scale teamwork and collaboration: While Microsoft Visio does allow multiple users to work on a diagram simultaneously, it may not have as many features as other tools specifically designed for teamwork and collaboration. This could make it more difficult for large teams to work together effectively on complex projects.

Microsoft Visio is a very flexible drawing package that is well suited [for] documenting simple or complex network topologies and creating process maps and flows. Microsoft Visio lacks integration with other documents like Word and PowerPoint. We should have the ability to add mind maps, flowcharts, and other diagrams to document in other Microsoft Office products but that feature is missing.

[In my option, Microsoft Visio is] bad value for money. [Learning from my experience,] If you are [considering] purchase[ing] Microsoft Visio plan 1, which allow[s] you to work using web view, don't. [I feel] it is a real wasting time tool. [In my experience,] the time to implement simple charts [has] become 3X or 4X [longer than the] older desktop versions. [I believe one of the] crazy wasting time issues [is that] you can insert picture but you cannot crop [it]! [In my experience,] you must use paint first. [Also, in my experience, you can group objects but cannot un-group, [meaning] you have to reimport the objects rework, and regroup again. Also, [I feel no matter] the bandwidth you have, the tool is very slow.

[With Microsoft Visio you can] create charts, process flow diagrams, mind map diagrams, and business process modeling. Visio provides a large number of built-in templates that are helpful to draw and complete projects faster and effortlessly. Visio is extremely easy to utilize. You can create a professional-looking functional diagram.

If you are working within an organization that will use the process diagrams for its needs, then you can use Visio, as your organization will have the license to make changes in the future. But if you are working at a consultancy firm which creates process diagrams, then think twice. Your clients may not have Visio licenses to change the diagrams that you had drawn for them.

Engineering drawings where a full CAD system is too complex and expensive. Day to day diagrams and drawings and flow charts

One way I've used Visio is to map the current state of a network. Beginning with actual design objects from OEMs, you are able to import a lot of equipment details and enter serial numbers, service IDs, MAC addresses, etc. Visio objects are defined at various manufacturer websites including Cisco, EMC, Dell, HP, etc. You then can link and organize your network "on paper" to keep an inventory of your devices, their software version levels, and other information. When you replace a device, it's easy to delete and add the new device, keeping your documentation up to date.

Visio is really a basic tool to create product strategy roadmaps, flowcharts and even simple artworks for immediate printing. While it does its basic functions well, it is limited to those basic functions.

For organization charts, complicated process-flow diagrams and hierarchical charts, it is well suited.